Subkhankulov Floors Usmonov Four Times

En-Route To Twelfth-Round Stoppage,

Secures IBF Lightweight Mandatory Shot!

(April 25th) Yesterday, Friday April 24th, Wrestling Palace, Ufa, Russia: In the high-stakes IBF Lightweight Eliminator main event of an Albert Khachaturov (“Al Siesta”) promotion branded as an IBA Pro 17 event, Ufa, Russia's, Artur Subkhankulov produced a technical and late drama, statement performance, stopping Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s previously unbeaten Bakhodur Usmonov via 12th-round TKO.

The opening rounds unfolded at a measured but competitive pace. Usmonov, 28, attempted to impose himself early, pressing forward and working behind his lead hand to close distance. Subkhankulov, a 34-year-old southpaw with a deep amateur pedigree, responded by establishing range and timing, using angles and a disciplined jab to blunt the aggression. While the first two rounds were closely contested, the momentum began to tilt in the third as Subkhankulov found success with straight left hands that disrupted Usmonov’s rhythm.

Between rounds three and five, Subkhankulov’s precision became increasingly apparent. He began timing Usmonov’s entries with sharp counters, landing clean, eye-catching shots that edged the exchanges. Usmonov remained competitive through activity and pressure, but Subkhankulov’s accuracy and ring generalship proved more effective. The middle rounds  developed into a tactical battle, with Usmonov showing resilience and pockets of success, yet unable to sustain consistent control as Subkhankulov managed distance and tempo with composure.

The fight’s decisive shift came in round ten. Just as Usmonov appeared to be pushing for a late surge, Subkhankulov punctuated the contest with authority, scoring two knockdowns, both stemming from his increasingly dominant left hand. Usmonov rose each time, displaying grit, but the tide had clearly turned. In round eleven, Subkhankulov continued the assault, dropping Usmonov for a third time early in the frame. Though the Tajik fighter survived to the bell, he was visibly compromised and forced into survival mode.

The end came in the 12th. Sensing the finish, Subkhankulov applied calculated pressure, cutting off the ring and unleashing a final series of punches that sent Usmonov down for the fourth time. With Usmonov unsteady and unable to adequately defend himself, the referee intervened, waving off the contest at 2:22 of the round.

In what was a closely fought contest through nine rounds, Subkhankulov’s ability to elevate his output and accuracy down the stretch proved decisive. The performance not only underscored his technical maturity but also announced his arrival as a legitimate threat in the lightweight division’s upper tier.

With the victory, Subkhankulov advances to 12–0, 6Ko’s and secures the IBF’s No. 2 position at lightweight, effectively becoming the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Raymond Muratalla. Usmonov, valiant in defeat, with his first loss falls to 12–1, 5Ko’s after a performance defined by durability but ultimately undone by Subkhankulov’s late precision and power.